The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during Liver Awareness Month this October.
According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the U.S., making it the second most common transplant. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during surgery.
Donors with all blood types are currently needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. All those who attempt to donate blood during October will be eligible to win a $5,000 Visa gift card, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are encouraged to download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). More information on liver disease and ways to help protect against liver disease is available at liverfoundation.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Fairfield
Bridgeport
10/6/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Housatonic Community College, 900 Layfayette
Danbury
10/1/2014: 1:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Gethsemane Baptist Church International, Gethsemane Baptist Church International, 8-B Delay Street
10/11/2014: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Danbury Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road
Darien
10/1/2014: 1:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Raod
Fairfield
10/3/2014: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Sportsplex at Fairfield, 85 Mill Plain Road, Building J
10/7/2014: 1:45 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue
10/7/2014: 9 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue
10/15/2014: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, 1229 Post Road
Monroe
10/4/2014: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Monroe Senior Center, 235 Cutlers Farm Road
Norwalk
10/2/2014: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
10/4/2014: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
10/7/2014: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
10/9/2014: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
10/11/2014: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
10/14/2014: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., American Red Cross Fairfield County Blood Donation Center, 596 Westport Avenue
Old Greenwich
10/4/2014: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Avenue
Shelton
10/3/2014: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., Shelton Community Center, 41 Church Street
10/13/2014: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., R.D. Scinto Towers, 2 Corporate Drive
Stamford
10/11/2014: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Tully Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court
Stratford
10/9/2014: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 2252 Main Street
Trumbull
10/15/2014: 11:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Middlebrook Farms of Trumbull, 2750 Reservoir Avenue
Wilton
10/6/2014: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., YMCA, 404 Danbury Road
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.